A case for the study of foreign languages by pupils in the United States is presented in this book. The polyglot nature of America and the history of its language education is described, and language programs in foreign countries and in the United States are compared. Also discussed are the need for adequate language education for international contact and career opportunities in languages. Linguistics and the languages of the world are briefly examined, and some suggestions are made about the future of language education and language laboratory use. (AF)